The opening rally of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign was the subject of fawning coverage on the nation’s top Spanish-language network, Univision.
Univision, which failed to include a single critical voice in its report on Clinton’s speech at the rally, celebrated the participation in the event of activist Andrea González, a non-citizen who was the only person other than Clinton to address the crowd.
SANDRA GONZALEZ, “DREAMER”: The people we are trying to get out to vote for her, are Hispanic people that usually speak Spanish and want to listen to messages like this.
Throughout his report, correspondent Pedro Ultreras provided a virtual echo chamber for the Clinton campaign narrative, touting that the candidate “guaranteed that she will not turn her back on immigrants, as Republicans have done.”
Meanwhile, Telemundo’s report on the rally was also highly favorable to Clinton, but did include critical commentary by Republican National Committee Hispanic Media Director Ruth Guerra, who said of Clinton’s speech “well, there were a lot of words, a lot of rhetoric, but not the truth, real solutions to solve the problems we are confronting in our nation.”
The Telemundo report was also distinct for being the first time, since the #ClintonCash scandal broke, that the network’s national evening newscast has mentioned it. Montenegro noted that in her speech “Clinton made no reference to the controversies that follow her, such as certain donations to the Foundation under her name.”
Univision and Telemundo’s coverage of Clinton’s opening campaign rally contrasted sharply with the clearly critical tone that characterized their coverage of the opening campaign speeches of Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL).
Specifically, it is worth noting that pro-Democrat demonstrators were given major attention by these networks during the announcement speeches of both Sen. Rubio and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, while pro-Republican demonstrators at Clinton’s opening campaign rally were totally ignored by Univision, and cited only in passing by Telemundo.
Univision’s consistent record of cheerleading for Clinton and the Democrats is in all likelihood due to the network’s deep ties to both Clinton and the Obama administration, as revealed in a major exposé by Politico last month, as well as the initial exhaustive content analysis of news content on the network conducted by MRC Latino last year.
Relevant portions of the referenced Univision and Telemundo national newscasts appear below:
Noticiero Univision 06/13/2015
PEDRO ULTRERAS, CORRESPONDENT: About immigration, she said little. She only did so on twice, but guaranteed that she will not turn her back on immigrants, as Republicans have done, who want to deport the undocumented who work very hard and pay taxes.
MANUEL CASTRO, ACTIVIST: We want a champion in the White House that will make immigration reform a reality during her first year.
…
PEDRO ULTRERAS: And it was precisely a Hispanic the only person other than Clinton who spoke at the gathering. Sandra González, a dreamer, who came from Texas to deliver a speech, and she did it in Spanish.
ANDREA GONZALEZ, ‘DREAMER’: The people we are trying to get out to vote for her, are Hispanic people that usually speak Spanish and want to listen to messages like this.
PEDRO ULTRERAS: Few Hispanics were seen at this event, but those who came emphasized that what they liked the most was Hillary Clinton’s speech to the working class and family values.
Noticiero Telemundo 06/13/2015
VANESSA HAUC, ANCHOR: Hillary Clinton officially launched her campaign for the presidency of the United States, and dedicated some parts of her speech to immigration. She said that a path to citizenship must be offered to working and law-abiding immigrant families. Lori Montenegro with the details.
…
LORI MONTENEGRO, CORRESPONDENT: She talked about family, education, and opportunities even for those undocumented. She accused Republicans, among other things, for putting hard-working undocumented who pay taxes at risk of deportation. People like this dreamer from Texas, who spoke in favor of her candidacy.
ANDREA GONZALEZ, ‘DREAMER’ STUDENT: That is why I’m 100% sure about immigration reform, she is going to accomplish it if she gets to the White House.
LORI MONTENEGRO: Clinton did not make any reference to the controversies that follow her, like certain donations that the Foundation under her name has received. The reaction from the Republican Party was immediate.
RUTH GUERRA, REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE: Well, there were a lot of words, a lot of rhetoric, but not the truth, real solutions to solve the problems we are confronting in our nation.
